Window blinds and frames for like structures



G. SHERWOOD 3,059,291

WINDOW BLINDS AND FRAMES FOR LIKE STRUCTURES Oct. 23, 1962 Filed April 19, 1957 HVVENTUR. 6/5/70 4. Jig/Wood BY m @ka 5%? X/zfl/WZQ ul r United States Patent 3,059,291 WINDOW BLINDS AND FRAMES FOR LIKE STRUCTURES Glenn L. Sherwood, Benton Harbor, Mich., assignor to Kaywood Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 654,007 3 Claims. (Cl. 20-62) This invention relates to improvements in window blinds and frames therefor and frames for like structures. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a Window blind or like structure in which the parts, particularly the frame parts, are assembled without the use of screws, nails or like fasteners.

Second, to provide a structure of this type having these advantages which may be quickly and economically assembled.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, parts being broken away to show structural details and parts being indicated by dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating a stepped dowel bore forming bit in relation to one of the frame parts.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 44 of FIG. 5, the dowel being illustrated in full lines.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating steps in the assembly of the blind and details of the blind structure.

The window blind embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises stiles 1 and 2, top cross piece 3 and bottom cross piece 4. The stiles are provided with opposed series of slat pintle bearing bores 5 and having grooves 6 in their inner edges adapted to receive the tongues 7 on the end edges of the top and bottom of cross members 3 and 4.

The grooves and tongued edges of the stiles and the cross members initially have stepped aligned dowel bores 8 formed therein, the steps of the bores being of substantial length and the inner steps being initially of substantially less diameter than the outer steps. The slats 9 are provided with pintles 10 engaging the bearing bores 5 in the stiles. The slats are connected for simultaneous operation by means of the bar 11, the bar being desirably that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,761,185, issued September 4, 1956. e

The dowels 12 are preferably of wood and are cylindrical and of uniform diameter from end to end except that the ends are curvedly bevelled at 13. The dowels are seated in the dowel bores with the edges of the stiles and cross members and their mortices and tenons in engaging abutting relation. The diameter of the dowels is such that they have fitting engagement with the outer steps of the bores and bore expanding engagement with the inner steps thereof. Desirably the dowels are coated with suitable adhesive before inserting, but it should be understood that the adhesive is not primarly relied upon to retain the dowels. The stepped dowel bores may be formed very practically by means of the stepped bit 14, as is illustrated in FIG. 3.

In assembling, the parts are disposed on a suitable support 15 having spaced pairs of studs 16 thereon adapted to receive the slats 9 and support them in proper spaced relation for their pintles to enter the bore-like pintle bearings 5 in the stiles. With dowels properly positioned,

the stiles 1 and 2 are forced into abutting engagement with the end edges of the top and bottom or cross members 3 and 4. That completes the assembly and no screws or nails are required; The parts are very securely retained together and may be rapidly and economically assembled. The slat unit is preassembled so that it may be positioned as a unit between the stiles with the slats in supported relation to the studs 16.

I have not illustrated the press for forcing the stiles into abutting engagement with the ends of the cross members, and it will be understood that that mechanism may be very considerably varied. While I have illustrated the slatted blind structure, it should be understood that my invention may be embodied in structures in which panels are used and in frames generally considered.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in a blind or like structure, a frame comprising stiles and end members disposed between the stiles with the end edges thereof in abutting relation to the inner edges of the stiles, the stiles having grooves therein and the end members having tongues engaged in said grooves, said grooved and tongued abutting edges of said members initially having aligned inwardly stepped dowel bores therein, the bores in the end members extending from the edges of and through the tongues substantially beyond the bases thereof, both steps of the bores being cylindrical and of substantial length, the inner steps being initially of substantially less diameter than the outer steps, said stiles having a series of opposed pintle bearing bores in their inner edges, slats provided with pintles disposed in said pintle bearing bores, and cylindrical wood dowels having curvedly bevelled ends and being of uniform diameter between said bevelled ends seated in said dowel bores with the said meeting edges of the stiles and end members in abutting relation, the dowels being in press fitting engagement with the outer steps of the bores and bore expanding engagement with the inner steps thereof.

2. A frame comprising stiles and end members disposed between the stiles with the end edges thereof in abutting relation to the inner edges of the stiles, the stiles having grooves therein and the end member tongues engaged in said grooves, said grooved and tongued abutting edges of said members initially having aligned inwardly stepped dowel bores therein, the bores in the end members extending from the edges of and through the tongues substantially beyond the bases thereof, both steps of the bores being cylindrical and of substantial length, the inner steps initially being of substantially less diameter than the outer steps, and cylindrical dowels having bevelled ends and being of uniform diameter between said bevelled ends seated in said dowel bores with the said meeting edges of the stiles and end members in abutting relation, the dowels being in bore expanding engagement with at least the inner steps of the bores.

3. A frame structure comprising side members, and cross members disposed between the side members with the end edges thereof in abutting relation to the inner edges of the side members, the side members having grooves therein and the cross member tongues engaged in said grooves, said grooved and tongued abutting edges of said members having aligned initially inwardly stepped dowel bores therein, the bores in the end members extending from the edges of and through the tongues substantially beyond the bases thereof, both steps of the bores being cylindrical and of substantial length, the inner steps being initially of substantially less diameter than the outer steps, and cylindrical wood dowels havingbevelled ends and being of substantially uniform diameter between said bevelled ends seated in said dowel bores with the said abutting edges of said members in abutting engagement, the dowels being in press fitting ena gagement with the Outer steps of the bores and in bore 52,854 Hungerford Feb. 27, 1866 expanding engagement with at least the inner steps thereof. 991,722 Hourd May 9, 1911 1,629,317 Smith May 17, 1927 2,272,507 Bullard Feb. 10, 1942 References Clted 1n the file of th1s patent 5 2,328,823 MacKenZie Sept 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,597,444 Brown et a1 May 20, 1952 48,11 va Wagenen June 6,. 1 65 2,681,483 Morawetz June 1 

